05 VS 96 steering and handling.

I finally got my '05 K1500 back on the road, but it still drives me nuts with its "soft" and over-sensitive steering. The difference is night and day from my '96. It's not that the 05 doesn't want to turn, but it's annoying to have the truck change lanes or move so much with just a light touch of the steering wheel.

Both trucks are set up the same way with 4wd, although the 05 is also AWD, and I still haven't replaced the rear shocks with non-air bag HD type. But the corners are firm when doing the normal shock tests (pushing down or adding weight). When I got the '96 it swayed all over the road because the shocks were totally crapped out. New HD shocks all around solved the problem and now it tracks like a truck should -- straight and firm.

For those of you that have owned or driven both year groups, is this normal? Has GM just turned the Suburban into a soccermom-friendly big station wagon, or do I need to go further in R&R just to get the "feel" I like?

The 05 has new Pirelli Scorpion E loads, and the '96 has almost new "Big O" E loads...both stock or 1 size up.

Doing more research and the possibility of a steering wheel sensor issue...there doesn't seem to be a sensor available. So, there is no sensor on the the '05 Suburban, even though they were used by GM on other cars up through 2005??? What replaced it?

What is the difference between the "steering wheel speed sensor" and a "steering wheel POSITION sensor"?

Huh? If you have a regular Silverado or Sierra then you have 4WD, not AWD.

What kind of truck do you have? Silverado? Sierra? Silverado SS? Sierra Denali?

And yeah, that is normal. It doesn't take much for my 99 Sierra to switch lanes or cut corners. Your 05 will have a better power steering bump than your 96. It will always perform differently or better on your 05 than your 96.

Huh? If you have a regular Silverado or Sierra then you have 4WD, not AWD.

What kind of truck do you have? Silverado? Sierra? Silverado SS? Sierra Denali?

And yeah, that is normal. It doesn't take much for my 99 Sierra to switch lanes or cut corners. Your 05 will have a better power steering bump than your 96. It will always perform differently or better on your 05 than your 96.

It's a Suburban (1500LT). I guess I'm just not used to all the bells and whistles and the more car-like feel. The '96 is kind of a brute but I like that strong and stable feel on the road.

Ah..I had seen you mentioned Suburban in your original post but that fit and description was very vague. I had also forgotten it was in the Suburban sub-forum.

I think the 4WD Suburbans only came with the push button 4WD..Do you have that?

The Tahoes, Yukons, Suburbans, and Yukon XLs all have T-bar front suspension, with coils in the rear.

Ah..I had seen you mentioned Suburban in your original post but that fit and description was very vague. I had also forgotten it was in the Suburban sub-forum.

I think the 4WD Suburbans only came with the push button 4WD..Do you have that?

The Tahoes, Yukons, Suburbans, and Yukon XLs all have T-bar front suspension, with coils in the rear.

The 4wd selector is different on the '05 than the '96. My '96 is always in 2wd unless I push the "4Hi" button, which gives me 4wd at speeds up to about 50 or so. If I stop and push "4Lo" I get the really low gear 4wd for pulling through mud or snow.

On the '05 it has selector buttons, but apparently it is always in AWD unless I push one button that disengages the "selectrac" or something like that. I think that puts it in 2wd but it's not the normal operation. Then, there is a "4wd" button that is like the '96 where I have to stop and let it engage in the very low geared 4wd.

But I don't think either of those has any effect on the difference in power assist to the steering while driving. I have read that the '96-2000 subs used a steering wheel speed sensor on the column that actually changed the amount of pressure in the steering mechanism so it would give more assist at low speeds while turning, and less assist pressure at higher speeds like the highway.

But it looks like the '05 subs don't even have that sensor on the steering column...so I have no idea what makes it change the assist level/pressure. I know I don't like the "over-assisted" feel of it, though.

back around 1999 when GM come out with the new body style they change the steering effort and also the steering components. this improved steering effort and road feel..It is actually easier than my sedan 1996............

these palin vehicles are made for these type women ..

Suburbans, Tahoes, Yukons and Yukon XL SUVs all seem like soccermom vehicles, but the newer vehicles like the Crossovers are becoming the soccermom vehicle of the new age.

Subs, 'hoes, 'kons, and Yukon XLs all look badass when they are modded just right.